Essentially, mold is a type of fungus. There are numerous species of mold, and their spores are everywhere. It grows in hyphae, cellular thread-like structures.

Mold doesn’t discriminate and will grow anywhere when the conditions are right. It typically takes between 24-48 hours for mold to start growing and will thrive under the ideal conditions.

Mold is different from plants as they do not use light from the sun, but rather depend on dark, wet environments and derive their nutrients from organic materials.

Some molds are responsible for breaking down dead organic matter, while others play a role in food spoilage.

The mold we are most concerned about grows on damp or wet building materials due to leaks, floods or any type of uncontrolled moisture source.

Left undetected, it will cause rot damage, contribute to poor indoor air quality and can cause health issues for people and animals.

There are a few questions to consider that can help you…

• Do you see anything that looks like mold?
• Is there too much humidity in the home, especially along the windows?
• Does your home smell musty?
• Have there been any floods, leaks or signs of water ingress into the home?
• Do you have a dirt crawlspace?
• Was the home ever a Grow op?
• Have you or anyone in your home experienced flu like symptoms, such as nasal congestion, chest congestion, shortness of breath, runny nose, throat irritation, cough?

If you notice any of the above points, then mold can be an issue.

Health wise, the people most at risk are infants, the elderly, and people with compromised immune or respiratory systems and asthmatics.

Mold needs moisture, a food source, moderate temperature and time. The most important ingredient for mold to thrive is moisture.

Outside, mold is an important part of our ecosystem as it breaks down rotting vegetation and other organics.

It typically takes between 24-48 hours for mold to start growing and will thrive when left unchecked under the ideal conditions.

Food sources include anything that is organic like cellulose, dust, dirt and debris. The temperature range is vast, as it can grow in a refrigerator, but grows best in moderate environments.

The infamous Stachybotrys chartarum, is what people are referring to as “toxic black mold”.

 It is the mycotoxins (poisons) released by the mold that makes it toxic. Mold produces these mycotoxins (poisons) to take over or defend a territory from other mold. Think of it as “mini mold warfare”.

In reality, many mold types can be potentially dangerous. It really depends on the mold type and what sensitivities a person has to each mold species. This topic is complicated and ongoing research continues. 

I’m renting a home with mold in it, what should I do?

First, contact your landlord through email, and let him/her know about it. It is wise to include some clear pictures, with the email. If your landlord is not responsive (and you live in CA) you can check out this resource for tenants. 

Essentially, mold is everywhere, and mold spores are microscopic. They enter your home through open windows, doors, pets, your clothing or anything that may have ben brought into the home. There is really no way to prevent mold from entering your home in small quantities.

However, the simple answer is to keep your home, warm, dry, clean and well ventilated.

This means rectifying a mold issue quickly & frequently cleaning debris from all areas of the home, including closets, below/behind furniture, storage areas, upper/lower corners and using ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

A mold inspection is a non-invasive, visual inspection of accessible areas of the home, where we look to identify the presence of mold or water damage.

We rely on training and tools to investigate the home rather than damaging walls, floors, ceilings or other building materials.

To help you save time, yes, we can refer mold remediation contractors. However, we are not financially incentivized to do so, and always recommend you do your own research as well. Only hire a company that you feel comfortable with.

If you notice musty odors, unexplained health symptoms, or visible signs of mold, it’s time to schedule an inspection.